FIA Probes Golden Visa Holders Having Undeclared Property in UAE

A major crackdown is underway against resident Pakistanis who have invested at least AED 2 million in UAE property but haven’t declared these assets under Pakistan’s tax and anti-money laundering laws. Thousands of Pakistanis have been identified by the Federal Investigation Agency holding 10-year UAE golden visas issued for property investments. These visas contain key information such as the Pakistani passport number, name, designation as “Property Owner,” and “Self Sponsor” status. Tax authorities are now using this data to verify whether such investments have been declared in individual wealth statements. A large number of resident Pakistanis have neither disclosed these foreign assets nor reported related rental income or capital gains in their tax returns. In addition, Capital Value Tax (CVT) on foreign assets remains unpaid in most cases. While the UAE and Pakistan have a tax treaty that includes provisions for information exchange, the UAE has reportedly not shared financial data. Further, residents often open UAE bank accounts using their residence permits instead of Pakistani passports, limiting traceability under the Automatic Exchange of Information framework. Many individuals used informal remittance channels to fund these investments to avoid getting caught.